Monday, March 7, 2016

How Safe is Your Home from a Fire?

How
Safe is Your Home from a Fire? Learn How to Run a Quick Fire Safety Assessment

A fire can rage through your home at a moment's notice, and
it can cause a significant amount of damage in a very short period of time.
Damage from the flames, intense heat, smoke and soot can cause tens of
thousands of dollars or more in some cases, and a severe fire event can result
in a total loss for the homeowner. More than that, a fire can create a serious
health and safety risk for you and your loved ones inside the home. If you are
concerned about how safe your home is from a fire, consider a few important
points.

Do You Have Fire Extinguishers On All Floors?

When a small fire breaks out, you may only have a few seconds to respond. You
simply do not have time to rush around the house in search of a fire
extinguisher. Instead, you should know immediately where it is at and how to
use it. More than that, you should have one available on all floors of your
home. While you may want to reach for a fire extinguisher to put out a small
flame, you should still yell for others in the home to vacate while you use the
fire extinguisher.

Do You Have Smoke Alarms in Ideal Locations?

Fires can break out during all hours of the day and night. When you are awake,
you may easily be able to smell smoke from a nearby room. However, when you are
asleep or when the smoke is in a removed area of the home, it can be more
difficult to observe the signs of a fire until it is too late. Placing a loud
smoke alarm in all bedrooms in your home is a wise idea. You will also need one
in living areas of the home. If your home is larger in size, you may consider
investing in additional smoke alarms.
When Was the Last Time You Replaced the Batteries in Your Smoke Detectors?

It is not enough to simply have the smoke detectors mounted to your walls or
ceiling. Instead, you need to make sure that they are loud and that they work
well. If you have a hearing impaired person in the home, you should invest in
detectors with a visible strobe light to alert them to a danger. Batteries
generally should be replaced every few months, and you may consider replacing
the batteries each time you replace the filters for your HVAC system. Keep in
mind that it is better to replace the batteries before they lose power than to
be without the function of an alarm in your home when you need it.

Even a small fire can be a dangerous and costly event. By focusing on these
factors in your home, you can most easily prepare for a fire, and you will be
able to take immediate action in the event a fire develops in your home.